More than 725,000 students were affected by the wildfires that devastated Southern California communities in January. As blazes become more frequent and destructive occurrences across the state, a new report by EdTrust and UndauntedK12, The Impacts of the Los Angeles Wildfires on Students: Lessons for Schools Nationwide, offers a look at the repercussions that the fires had locally and provides proactive recommendations for education leaders.
“Some districts were closed for two or three days while district leaders assessed risk and followed statewide evacuation orders, while others … kept some schools closed for 10+ days,” according to the report. “Missing a week or more of school is detrimental, especially for students who are already chronically absent. A meta-analysis of the impacts of weather-related school closures found that missing one week of school results in a learning loss equivalent to two or three weeks.”
Of the impacted students — who spanned Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura and San Bernardino counties — the most vulnerable populations were disproportionately affected.
More than one in 10 were individuals with disabilities. Three-fourths were socioeconomically disadvantaged, two-fifths were multilingual learners and two-thirds were Latino.
Young people and their families faced, and continue to encounter, challenges like loss of access to vital community resources, as well as trauma and displacement.
“School closures exacerbate existing trauma,” the report states. “Many families have been displaced without access to shelter, clothing, and food, which can affect students’ emotional well-being and academic performance. Students may have been impacted by parental stress, deaths, or traumatic injuries in their communities. The psychological strain on students, their families, and educators due to ongoing evacuations and wildfires will not go away overnight. Even when students return back to school, they will require robust support of their physical and mental health.”
Because extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, the report highlights the national need for climate-resilient infrastructure to foster resilience in schools and ensure equitable recovery.
“Wildfires are just one example of extreme weather events affecting education systems across the U.S. In late 2024, hurricanes closed schools across 20 districts in North Carolina, a growing number of districts now delay their first day of school due to extreme heat, and nearly 10,000 schools have closed due to other extreme weather events in the 2024–25 school year,” the report notes. “These closings may not have made it into national news, but disruptions like these are happening nationwide. State and school leaders must acknowledge this new reality and take steps to be prepared.”
EdTrust and UndauntedK12 issues calls to action for state and education leaders as well as community members at the conclusion of the report.
Recommendations for local educational agency leaders include:
- Reviewing facilities master plans with a focus on climate-resilience
- Developing emergency response plans and safety guidelines that cover regional risks related to extreme weather
- Preparing to support mental health needs
- Determining root causes that could hinder equitable access to learning-ready facilities
